They also supported measures to increase grower ownership and control of Zespri.

KISP chairman Neil Richardson said that would require some changes to regulations, which would be up to the government.

"The next step is the industry will ask the Government to make the regulatory changes. The Government will then turn to its advisor, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and ask for their advice.

"Given that that advice is positive, it will then go, I believe to, a Cabinet paper and the decision will be made at the level of cabinet. We expect that that process is probably, all going well, going to take six months."